TOM O'CONNOR,
Madam, - There have been many seminal moments in the development of Irish society in the past 10 years, as the old demi-gods and untouchables have been, one by one, exposed as the frauds and cheats they really were. With the broadcasting of the excellent Prime Time documentary Cardinal Secrets on Thursday night, we have reached a critical moment in the evolution and development of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
The documentary examined and detailed how Cardinal Connell and a number of his bishops obstructed the course of justice in the case of many priests involved in the rape of children. There can be no more obfuscation, or blathering about canon law. The facts are clear.
The question is no longer is whether Cardinal Connell should resign (he will do so, of that there is no doubt), but whether Irish society is strong enough to enforce the law among this previously untouchable circle. It is now time for the Garda to take action, to show that there are no more untouchables in Irish society, and that there is room for only one law, and one interpretation of the law.
The talk of resignation is laughable, it is much more serious than that. If any person did not release relevant information to gardaí investigating any crime, much less a rape, would we not expect the full rigours of the law to be applied to them?
Words cannot express the deep hurt and anger Catholics feel across the country. A great schism has opened in the hearts of many ordinary Catholics. It needs to be healed. Only when justice is served can healing begin; but that justice must be the justice of the land, not the secret codes of the church.
Please God this will start a reformation within the church here, as so many priests are themselves embarrassed and ashamed at the goings-on of the hierarchy. Perhaps the scandal will in time prove to be a blessing, if it strips away antiquated attitudes and leaves a more confident, truthful and more Christian church.
So to the Garda and Minister for Justice I say: do your duty. To the good priests around the country I say: do yours, and ensure that no longer do your flock have to put up with the behaviour of your superiors. You can not stand idly by. - Yours, etc.,
TOM O'CONNOR,
Batterstown,
Co Meath.
... ... * ... * ... * ... ...
Madam, - RTE's excellent Prime Time documentary on clerical child sexual abuse made difficult viewing on Thursday night. One thing is now painfully clear: only a State-appointed judicial inquiry will suffice to deal with this loathsome chapter in Irish social history.
The Catholic Church's internal "audit" under its appointee, Judge Hussey, is not good enough. In Australia and the US, state authority was involved immediately to deal with criminal cover- ups and collusion by senior church office-holders. And real results and real justice was realised.
It is time for our elected representatives to start demonstrating courage and maturity in dealing with the Roman Catholic Church's representatives in our State.
Furthermore, on the basis of his decisions as recorded in this RTÉ documentary, Cardinal Connell should resign immediately. - Yours, etc.,
PAUL MORAN,
Kingston Park,
Dublin 16.
... ... * ... * ... * ... ...
Madam, - I am a committed and practising Catholic. Today I have written to my bank to cancel my regular direct debit to the Church. When my archdiocese is entrusted to someone other than Desmond Connell I will renew it. - Yours, etc.,
JACK MORRISSEY,
Acorn Road,
Dublin 16.